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Anthony smirked. “Without a doubt. But in order for this to succeed, Miss Littlebury will need to break the engagement.”
Avis leaned forward in her seat. “Then we need a plan.”
Nicholas waited in the small receiving salon at Lord Witham’s house. The nauseating pea green color of the walls seemed to match his feelings about being here. After his talk with Sophie this morning, he felt defeated. But he had an idea to give her plenty of time to change her mind.
“Lord Ancroft, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
Nicholas turned at the sound of Lord Witham’s voice. “Hardly a pleasure, Witham. Let’s get this over with.”
Witham’s plump face reddened. “As you wish. Let us convene to my study and discuss the terms.”
As they walked by the music room, Nicholas noticed Miss Littlebury sitting at the piano, looking extremely pale. She did not even smile as he passed the room. He br
iefly wondered if she was not as much at fault as he previously thought. Perhaps they were both pawns in their fathers’ schemes.
“When we are finished, I would like to speak with you, your daughter, and wife.”
Witham stopped and looked at him. “Why?”
“I do believe some clarifications are in order.”
“Very well, then.” Witham opened the door to his study and waited for Nicholas to enter the room. Walking to his desk, Witham said, “I think you will find everything in order, my lord. Justine comes to you as a wealthy bride with a rather large dowry.”
Nicholas took a seat in the burgundy leather chair on the other side of the cherry desk. He reached for the documents Witham held out to him. As he perused the documents, he noticed everything was in order. There was no need for a solicitor to review it.
“This is fine.” Nicholas signed his name at the bottom of the paper.
“Excellent, my lord. Congratulations.” Witham came around the desk with his hand out. “Justine will make you a perfect duchess.”
“I am not the duke yet,” he reminded Witham.
Witham smiled. “But soon. I talked to your father only last week. I assume he will be bedridden before the month is out.”
He scowled. The man sounded excited by the prospect of Nicholas’s father’s demise. “You talked to my father?”
Again, Witham’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment. “Of course, we had some business arrangements to review.”
Business arrangements, Nicholas scoffed. More like marriage arrangements. “Of course.”
“Come along, we shall announce the news to the family.”
Nicholas followed Witham back into the salon where Lady Witham sat with Justine at her side. Two younger girls sat together on a large chair.
“Lord Ancroft, it is a pleasure to welcome you to our home,” Lady Witham said with a deep curtsy.
Nicholas strode toward them and bowed over both ladies’ hands. “It is lovely to see you both again.”
“It is done,” Witham said. “Now you both need to set a date.”
“Quickly,” Lady Witham commented. “We cannot have Justine’s reputation suffer any further damage.”
“No,” Nicholas interjected. “I have decided a longer engagement is necessary.”
“Oh?” Lady Witham said.
“You see,” Nicholas folded his arms over his chest. “I know for a fact that I never touched your daughter. Therefore, the wedding will take place after Christmas. I will not make some other man’s child my heir.”
“But, my lord,” Lady Witham said with a cat-like smile. “How do we know that you won’t touch her before the wedding?”
